Breech-loading fire-arm



(No Model.)

J. HARDER.

BREEGH LOADING PIRE ARM.`

ttorneys 'L PETERS, movuhographer, Walhngon. D. C.

rares i JACOB IIARDER OF LOCK HAVEN, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK E. I-IARDER AND GEORGE W. HARDER, OF TYRONE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,482, dated June 9, i885,

` Application filed December 19, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JACOB Hknnnn, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Loek Haven, in the county of Clinton and State of Penni sylvania, have invented a new and useful `Improvementin Combined Breech-Loading Shotguns and Rides, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

lo This invention relates to breech -loading guns; and it has for its object to provide a device of this character which will combine a rifle-barrel for long-distance shooting at a target or mark or large game at a standing I5 shot, and a shot-barrel for shooting small or large game with either fine or buck shot, combining two guns in one, with both barrels-arranged in a convenient position, one above the other.`

2o A further object of the invention is to provide the `two barrels with one pair of sights and an automatically-operating ejector, and a still further Objectis to provide means of locking the barrels down in position,and for releas- 2 5 ing them at will when it is desired to reload or extract, thereby producing a gun which will be of service to Sportsmen, combining simplicity `in its general construction and efficiency in operation.

3o With these ends in view the said invention consists in the combination, arrangement, and construction of the several parts, as hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in i the claim. 3 5 In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my combination breech loading rifle and shotgun, showing the barrels in the raised position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a 4o horizontal section on the line :v w, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig, 5 is a detail View of the extractor or ejector, with its operating means. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the spring-pressed lockingbar forholding the barrels down in the closed position. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the firing-pins.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several figures. 5o Referring to the drawings, A designates the Stock; B, the breech-piece, hollowed out and formed with upwardly-extendin g curved sides; C C, the hammers; D, the triggers, connecting with the hammers in the usual and well-known manner, and E the trigger-guard.

F G designates the rifle and shot barrels, arranged one above the other,and of the usual construction, the lower orshot barrel,G, having a depending lug, a, formed therewith at an intermediate point of its length, which lughas 6o a central perforation, and is inclined on its inner face, the lower portion of this inclined face being notched to provide a bearing-shoulder, b. The forward or outer end of the breechpiece has its bottom wall inclined at d, to work against the inclined face of the lug, and is cut out to receive the latter, the sides of the breechpiece on each side of this cut-out portion being extended and perforated, as shown. The lug a is received in the cut-out portion between 7o the sides, and apin or screw, H, passes through the latter and the said lug, so as to hinge the barrels to the breech-piece and allow the raising of the same. The cxtreme lower edge of the inclined bottom wall, d, works over the inclined face ofthe lug, and is adapted to abut against the bearingshoulder b, for the purpose hereinbefore stated.

I designates a locking-bar (see Fig. 6) comprising the cylindrical rod portion e, passing So transversely through the breech-piece, forward of the hammers, and the lflat main portion or locking-bar proper, fitting in a slot of the breech-piece on one side, and having its end formed with an inwardly-extending engagingnib, f, which extends through an opening or passage in the said breech-piece, so as to engage,when in its normal position, with an indentation or notch, h, formed in the sides of the barrels. A spring, g, is coiled aroundthe rod portion c and bears at one end against the wall of the opening or passage in which the latter works, a detachable screw-headed stud,

i, being attached to the end ofthe rod portion and bearing against the other end of the spring so that by pressing the stud or plug inward the spring is compressed, the rod portion, with the locking-bar proper, is pushed outward, and the nib f withdrawn from engagement with the notch h of the barrels, and 10o thus allowing the latter to be raised to extract the caps or cartridges and reload. In its normal position the stud i is pressed a short distance beyond the breech-piece by the spring, so as to be in a convenient position for operation.

JJ designate the ring-pins for ritle and shot barrels, respectively. 'The chamber or passage in which the iiring-pin J works is inclined inward toward the center of the breechpiece, so that the pin will act upon the center of the cartridge placed in the upper or ritie barrel to explode the same, while the chamber or passage in which the firing-pin J worksis inclined downward and inward, so that its pin will act upon the cap fitted in the shotbarrel. Each of the firing-pins is constructed as shown in Fig. 7, and comprising the Aheaded main portion m, and the diminished or reduced portion n, each occupying about onehalfthe length of the said pin, and the main portion having a recess,o,provided in one of its sides, as will be explained. A spring is seated in each of the chambers or passage of the firing-pins .I J', and bears at one end against the wall of the chamber and at the other end against the main portion m, the tendency of the spring being to keep the pointed front end oi' the pins ott the cartridge or cap, and to force the head ofthe main portion m outward and allow it to project a short distance. The .upper or outer ends of the chambers for the tiring-pins are on a common horizontal line and in the direct path of the hammers, so that the pins may receive a blow from the latter sufficient to force them inward and explode the cap or cartridge in the mannerA well known in the art. Openings are formed in the breech-piece at right angles to the iiring pins to receive small threaded rods Z, which have their inner ends in engagement with the recess o in the said pins, to hold the latter from dropping out, and yet allow a limitedmovement of the same.

lVI designates a rod working in a passage formed at the junction of the two barrels F G, and having its inner or rear end iitted to the extractor or ejector proper, this extractor being seated in a recess, p, formed on one side and between the barrels and having its edges grooved to receive a portion of the head of the cap or cartridge. The other end of the vrod M has an outwardly-extending pin, q,

working in a slot, r, and having its end threaded to receive one end of a lever, N, which is pivoted to the breech-piece in the manner shown. In its normal position the extractor or ejector fits fiush in the recess p, its inner, upper, and lower edges receiving a portion of the cap ofthe lower barrel,G, and the cartridge of the upper barrel. When the barrels are raised, the action of the lever N pushesr the pin g through the slot and forces the rod M' rearward, and at the same time throws the extractor rearward out of its recess with a quick motion, As the extractor moves'it carries with it both the cap and cartridge,which are therebywithdrawn. Of coursewhen only 'one barrel isbeing used the extractor is equally effective to withdraw the cap or eartridge accordingly as the. one or the other is employed. It will be observed that the extractor' or ejector is automatic in its action,l so that upon the raising of the barrels the cap or cartridge is withdrawn, and upon closing them down to their normal positions the extractor is withdrawn or pulled back within its recess.

O designates the rear sight on the ride-barrel, the forward one not being shown. It will be seen that by placing the barrels one above the other onel pair of sights will answer for both barrels, and also that one ejector is sunicient, thereby simplifying the parts in this respect. Y

P designates a projection of the lower or shot barrel, tting in a correspondingly-shaped recess in the breech-piece,near the center thereof, said projection taking the strain off the screw or pin H, and also keeping the barrels from working loose.

It will be observed that I have not shown or described any connection of the hammers with the triggers, for I deem this unnecessary, as I employ the ordinary action which is now in common use.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

When the barrels are closed down,the sides of the breech-piece close around the same, so as to hold the saine from lateral movement. The locking-bar I also serves to hold the bar rels down until released from engagement by pressure from the iinger of the operator. When the barrels are loaded and closed down, the end of the cap or cartridge catches over a portion of the extractor, and is in direct line with the tiringpins. By operating the triggers the hammers are forced forward to push the firing-pins through their chambers and explode the cap or cartridge in the usual manner. The cap or cartridge is extracted by the raising of the barrels, when the latter may be reloaded and put in condition for use again.

It will be seen that by the peculiar arrangement of the ring-pin chambers the pins are placed in such a position as to accommodate themselves to the disposition of the barrels.

By my combination of a rifle and shot barrel in a breech-loading gun an article is placed in the hands of all sportnien which may be used for target-shooting or gunningpurposes, the parts being combined in such a manner as not to be cumbersome or expensive, but of exceeding simplicity in all its working parts.

Having described my invention', I claim- Ina gun, the combination, with the stock and breech-piece, of the barrels hinged or pivoted to the latter, an extractor seated in a recess, p, formed on one side and between ICO the barrels, a rod, M, Working in a passage In testimony that I claim the foregoing as zo formed at the junction of the barrels and conmy own I have hereto affixed my signature in neeted to the extractor, a pin, q, extending presence of two Witnesses. outward from the other end of the rod and 5 Working in a slot, r, one end of said pin being JACOB HARDER.

threaded, as shown, and a lever, N, fitted to the threaded end of the pin,and arranged out- Witnesses: side of the barre1s,and pivoted to the breech- H. T. HARVEY, piece, as and for the purpose set forth. 4 T. M. STEVENSON. 

